Nesbitt Connection: Recent Episodes
Mark Nesbitt
Bringing in thirty-years as a veteran in the aggregate, mining, trucking, and construction industry, Mark has fostered a passion for helping people develop a multitude of personal and professional assets, as they strive to grow and improve upon themselves. Nesbitt Training is devoted to building better leaders. This podcast will talk about all things leadership and it will help you Improve your personal leadership skills and encourage you to develop tools within your team for a greater opportunity to succeed.
In our industry, I’ve observed a growing disconnect between corporate leadership and the boots on the ground. It seems that in an attempt to speed everything up, we’re complicating the processes that used to be so beautifully simple. Don’t set your best people up for failure.
Recently, I’ve undergone some surgery and it’s been an incredible learning experience from start to finish. Along the way, I’ve made quite a few noteworthy observations which I believe are worth sharing, as they may carry important meaning for those in the construction industry and beyond.
Computers are comprised of both software and hardware. One can't work without the other's help.
Companies aren’t much different. In this day and age, it’s easy for the leaders and those in charge to neglect those on the ground doing hard work. This needs to change if you want your company to be successful.
I’m incredibly passionate about helping those in the construction industry do what they need to succeed. It seems nowadays it’s increasingly difficult to find people willing to work in the trades.
Attraction and retention are crucial in times like these. What are we doing to keep our best around?
On this episode of the Nesbitt Connection podcast, I’ll discuss what I call “The Great COVID Hangover” and its negative impact on workplace efficiency and company culture across a variety of industries. I’ll also touch on the importance of regularly talking with your people, along with the dangers of not listening when they just might have something valuable to say.
Persistence is key, as when you stumble and fall, you are the only one who can lift yourself up off the ground and keep going. Competition will lead you to better yourself, as success will place you against others who are just as successful. These are a few of the many valuable life lessons I’ve learned from long-distance running. In this Nesbitt Connection podcast, I cover their implementations in personal development and the work environment.
On this podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome a good friend of mine: Arnie Gess, President of Construction Links. We touch on Construction Links, what it is and why it’s beneficial for smaller businesses; as well as networking, social media best practices and the importance of promoting a positive work environment to potential employees.
In this Podcast, I talk about my own experience of leaving a company I'd been with for 25 years. It was a big change, but it was one that was necessary. The company had changed and I had changed, and it just wasn't a good fit anymore.
What surprised me the most was the amount of support I received. It was really humbling. I realized that your career can become a way of life, and sometimes it's scary to step outside of that comfort zone. But it's important to recognize that everyone has teachable moments, and we can learn lessons in just a few hours if we're open to them. Audiobooks are a great way to learn new things.
So if you're feeling stuck in a rut, don't be afraid to take some risks. You might be surprised at what you can achieve.
Reading is something I do not only for personal enjoyment but also for personal growth. There are a vast number of books written on leadership, with new ones emerging every day, yet still, one of my all-time favourites is The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. The Leadership Challenge is available in multiple languages, has sold millions of copies worldwide, and remains as relevant today as it did when it was released more than 25 years ago. Kouzes and Posner speak to a diverse audience of blue-collar and white-collar folk who are all looking to make a difference through their leadership ability. See how their 5 principles of leadership can help you be the leader that we need in the world today.
What separates the most successful businesses from the rest? You can name all the determining factors in the world, but it will always circle back to the leader. One thing a leader should know is that you can always learn from other business owners. In this episode of the Nesbitt Connection, I talk about how being a great leader is critical to a successful business and how to do better.
One of the things that separates a good leader from a bad one is their ability to connect with others—more specifically, their employees. Nowadays, leaders tend to remove themselves from the company, causing them to be unaware of what’s going on. It’s critical for those in a leadership role to understand the importance of being involved with the company, and a leader who forms meaningful relationships is significantly more successful than one who does not.
Where have all the leaders gone? This is a question that crosses my mind often. Over the years, our leaders and politicians have ceased to leave a prominent mark on our country and our trust has been misplaced in those whose focus is on money and power. Where are the sincere leaders when we need them most? They are meant to give us hope, but in many instances have failed to do so. Listen to this episode of the Nesbitt Connection and let me know how you think our leaders can step up and take action.
Oftentimes I hear people say leadership is easy or ask me “Is there anything else? This sense of superiority doesn’t foster good relationships or leaders. COVID-19 has disrupted relationship building. Relationship building is a fundamental piece in successful leadership but now is the time to acknowledge the small components that make a great leader. Jim Rohn said it himself “Everything that is really easy to do, is also really easy not to do.” Make sure you choose to do the small things to ensure lasting relationships and strong employees. The small things have the power to turn a job into a career.
I sat down with Laura from Women in Steel Toes and talked to her about the role of women in the construction industry and what are some of the challenges they face. Over the last year, she has been promoting women in construction and keeping everyone up-to-date with information to help women navigate the workplace.
Taking care of your body the most means eating a healthy balanced diet. While that is undoubtedly important, something many of us overlook is taking care of our minds. What we feed our minds daily has a direct impact on how we live, cope, and thrive not only in everyday life but as leaders. Without fueling our minds with quality information, just as our bodies do without proper nutrition, our minds can be negatively impacted. In this podcast, I discuss how to take care of not only yourself but also your people by feeding your mind with new information and facts so that you can continue growing as an individual and be the great leader you strive to be for your team.
Welcome to the first episode of the Nesbitt Connection! For introductory sake, I wanted to use this episode to tell my own story. Listen in on how my journey, mistakes, and interactions lead me to where I am today, and how my passion for leadership was born. I hope that through my experiences and knowledge, others on a similar path can feel empowered to make a difference in their lives and grow both personally and professionally.
"Be better tomorrow than you are today" - Mark Nesbitt